Inc. 5000 Honoree Under30Experiences Taps Into Millennial Travel Needs
Under30Experiences, a group travel company for 21-35-year-olds, was named #1322 on the 2019 Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies in America and #12 in Travel & Hospitality. This was the second year in a row Under30Experiences earned this prestigious recognition, growing 311% over a three-year period, making them the fastest-growing group travel company in the country with at least $2 million in revenue.
Under30Experiences brings small groups of young people on active adventures around the world. This year’s most popular destinations for their millennial travelers were Costa Rica, Iceland, Machu Picchu, and Thailand. New product launches included the Galapagos, New Zealand, and Vietnam-Cambodia helping the upstart travel company maintain rapid growth.
The company’s unique spin on the traditional tour industry is its focus on community. “As our generation spends an exorbitant amount of time on their devices, the demand for in-person connection has increased dramatically,” said Matt Wilson, Co-founder of Under30Experiences. “When people land in an exotic destination with a group of strangers they suddenly feel like they can be themselves, instead of hiding behind their social media profiles.”
Whether jumping off a waterfall in Costa Rica or hiking a glacier in Iceland, the company does its best to get millennials out of their comfort zones. “This is where the real growth happens for our travelers. We build itineraries that get people away from their desks and break their routines,” said Jared O’Toole, Under30Experiences Co-founder. “We want people to go home thinking, ‘Damn, I can’t believe I just did that.’”
Under30Experiences has a serious focus on sustainability and tries to leave the world better than they found it. While most millennials aren’t looking to spend their vacations volunteering, the company has found success taking travelers off the beaten path, setting up projects that support communities where tourism doesn’t normally reach. “Spending our money wisely is one of the biggest ways we can affect change,” says Lindsey Dukes, Under30Experiences Director of Communications. “We’re really proud to go places you’d never see on your own.”
The company is run by millennials, for millennials, and believes their growth can be credited to understanding their market better than their larger competitors. “Every millennial craves adventure and wants to be part of something larger than themselves,” says Wilson. “It’s just a matter of connecting with them.”